In October 2012 The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) published a call for technology developers to come up with innovative ideas for explosive detection technologies capable of detecting and identifying explosives from standoff...

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Chemring Detection Systems (“CDS”) a Chemring Group (“Chemring”) company, announced a $49M contract award to supply biological detection systems to the US Army and US Navy. The award was made by the Edgewood Contracting Division of the Aberdeen Providing Grounds Contracting Command for over 100 Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS) and Initial Fielding Packages. The systems will be installed on Navy ships such as the USS Ross (DDG 71) and in the Stryker Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV).

The Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) provides automatic detection and identification of airborne biological agents at very low levels, triggers local and remote warning systems, and communicates threat information over standard communication systems. JBPDS is manufactured in CDS’ Charlotte, NC facility. The systems are due for delivery between December 2012 and December 2013.

The JBPDS program is an US Army program managed by the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD). The system is the only US Biological Detection system that has been through Whole System Live Agent Test. There are many variants of the JBPDS including Shipboard, HMMWV shelter, trailer and standalone fixed-emplacement. Multiple systems can be networked for command and control from a single operational interface to provide a broad area of surveillance. The JBPDS is available for sale to international customers with an approved US State Department export license.

Chemring is a market leading manufacturing business supplying high technology electronics and energetic products to over 80 countries around the world. Chemring has a diverse portfolio of products that predominantly protect military people and platforms, providing insurance against a constantly changing threat. These range from countermeasures to protect aircraft, to ground penetrating radar to protect troops and vehicles from improvised explosive devices. Chemring Detection Systems offers various exportable solutions to detect and identify chemical, biological and explosive threats. CDS is worldwide provider of point detection capability for biological, Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA), Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) and explosives trace detection. Additionally, CDS also provides standoff detection for chemical and explosive threats.

U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan primarily face a threat from indirect weapons. These include rockets and mortars used at their static facilities and the ever present mine and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to vehicle and foot movement. The U.S. Army placed yesterday two contracts for systems to help counter these threats.

First, Lockheed Martin (LMT) received an option on an existing contract to procure more TPQ-53 counterfire radars. These provide detection and warning of mortars and rockets and allow defensive and counter measures to take place. This contract has a value of almost $400 million and will procure 33 sets of equipment. Earlier the Army had issued a contract for 12. These radars have been in development since 2007 and use since last year.

The Army also placed an Indefinite Delivery/Indoctrinate Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with NIITEK, a subsidiary of Chemring Group PLC, for their Husky Ground Penetrating Radar. This contract has a total value of close to $600 million if all options are exercised. The initial contract is worth $161 million. With all ID/IQ contracts the government does not have to spend anything or just a part of the total value.

The NIITEK Husky is a radar mounted on a vehicle used to detect mines and other threats buried in the ground. It also includes a metal detector if desired. The system supports route clearing and checking as part of a convoy or on separate missions.

These two contracts demonstrate that the U.S. still meets significant threats in Afghanistan and that the U.S. is being innovative in meeting them. It also shows that the U.S. will invest in systems for these missions despite budget and deficit issues.